Feeding and Nutrition :: Calcium

[lildragon]

I feed Stankass Scuttlebutt Wardley reptile permium sticks that have calcium in them, my question is do I need to put calcium tablets in the water with him as well? Just to let everyone know I also feed him shrimp ring shrim every other day or every 2 days, just do you know that I do feed him other things other than the tablets.

[sonyj]

The shrimp needs to be cut way back. Shrimp and other foods high in protein should be fed only occasionally (once a month or so).

If the calcium tablet you are talking about is the turtle shaped one then toss it. It does not contain a form of calcium that your turtle can absorb. The best way to provide extra calcium is to get some cuttle bone from the bird section of the pet store. Just remove the hard backing and break into bite size pieces. This is a good form of calcium supplement for you turtle.

Your turtle also needs a variety of veggies daily. Just look at the what to and what not to feed list stickies at the top of this section.

[lildragon]

Thanx alot Sonja, like I said earlier I have had stankass for about 3 and a bit years now, I knew nothing before and now I am slowly learning things and trying things that I have found out with the help from yourself and others that read my posts. Also I know that I haven't posted this in this post this time but I have posted that my turtle was 5-7 inches long and about 5 inches wide. I measured her today and she is 5.5 inches long and 3.5 inches wide.

[wetchikn]

I have a question about calcium as well. I ordered some cuttlebone (I live overseas) how much do I give my 2 turtles? Should it be available at all times or just occasionally? So far they seem to ignore it, but we did have a breakthrough!!!! They finally ate romaine lettuce (I dipped it in tuna juice)

[Wes_RES]

I have a question about calcium as well. I ordered some cuttlebone (I live overseas) how much do I give my 2 turtles? Should it be available at all times or just occasionally? So far they seem to ignore it, but we did have a breakthrough!!!! They finally ate romaine lettuce (I dipped it in tuna juice)

Tuna juice? BRILLIANT! but it leaves a film on the water. Keep trying to give it to them straight, because tuna is evil... actually, just messy.

[missibsu]

Tuna juice is actually one of the more common recommendations on this site for people who have problems getting their turtles to eat greens. Once the turtle gets used to the greens you don't have to do that anymore. A little sacrafice for getting your turtle to eat greens.

As for the cuttlebone. I break up about half of one the large pieces and drop it in the tank. Mine sniffed it for a few days before actually eating any. Try feeding it when you feed pellets. I replace it as needed.

[Wes_RES]

Don't crickets give calcium?

[jenaero]

not unless they're gutloaded. I buy freeze-dried gut loaded crickets but they get them a max of once a week so I also offer cuttlebone, dandelion greens and fortified pellets for calcium.

[cprcheetah]

Okay so my Zekey is a piglet....I think he may eat an entire cuttlebone in one sitting. So how much should he be getting a day?

[steve]

Heather, that is too much. I give my RES maybe 3 pea sized pieces every 2-3 days. They should be getting calcium from other areas of their diet, just think of this as a supplement.

Did you remove the hard backing?

[wetchikn]

Ok I will continue to try with the cuttlebone but so far (1 week) it is still a "no go"

Yes I removed the hard backing.

[jenaero]

It took mine a while to figure out they could eat it. Give it time.

[JuelisKaylee]

OK, I just made an order from petco (who adds and additional $15.00 to my shipping just to get it here to me) and I knew nothing about Cuttlebone..therefor I only have the new formular of food for the kids (Turtle Bites). What can I feed the turtles until I find out how to get my Cuttlebone. I have to check the pet stores...Wait a minute, Can somone describe this Cuttlebone. I think I might have seen it in the petstore this weekend.

[JuelisKaylee]

Also, Someone mentioned somethign about ReptoGuards (the turtle shaped blocks for the tank). I got a coupel fo them but not for calcium..I got them because it was advertised that it helps treat the water for healthier turtles. Can I have some feed back on that. I'm skeptical about placing that in the water alont with this "Turtle Clean" liquid that's helps to reduce turtle waste and food biologically.

[jenaero]

All I ever got from using Turtle Clean was an icky white film all over everything.


This is what cuttlebone looks like. You'll find it in the bird section at the pet store. It may be pre-packaged (if so, make sure you don't get the flavored kind) but most carry it in bulk.